We are currently finishing up our newest travel guidebook 50 States of Great (for sale now on Amazon), which focuses on our favorite National Forest, State Park, Roadside Attraction, and nine other categories for every state in America.  There are a few states with only one National Forest (and ten without any), which made the selection process easy, but others like California (with 19) that were a real challenge to pick.  With that in mind, we thought it would be fun to select the top states for National Forest biodiversity and recreational opportunities.  Click here to see all of our Top 10 Lists, including our Top 10 States for State Parks and Top 10 Day Hiking Trails in National Forests.

10. Florida

Apalachicola, Ocala, and Osceola National Forests

1,434,931 acres (1,176,287 federal/ 258,649 other)

Crystal clear natural springs and biodiverse forests with endemic species make this a fun state to visit, just not so much during the muggy and buggy summers

9. Oregon

Deschutes, Fremont, Malheur, Mt. Hood, Ochoco, Rogue River, Siuslaw, Umpqua, Willamette, Winema, Siskiyou, Wallowa, Whitman, and Umatilla National Forests

17,314,842 acres (15,555,804 federal/ 1,759,038 other)

From sand dunes on the Pacific Ocean to Cascade Range stratovolcanoes, from countless waterfalls to dry hillsides above the Columbia and Snake Rivers

8. Alabama

Conecuh, Talladega, Tuskegee, and William B. Bankhead National Forests

1,288,521 (670,983 federal/ 617,538 other)

A state with surprisingly great backpacking opportunities and long trails through pine and hardwood forests

7. Alaska

Chugach and Tongass National Forests

24,359,118 (21,956,783 federal/ 2,402,335 other)

Some of the most rugged terrain in America is found in these temperate rainforests on the Pacific Coast

6. Utah

Ashley, Cache, Dixie, Fishlake, La Sal, Manti, Sawtooth, Uinta, and Wasatch National Forests

9,157,444 acres (8,152,640 federal/ 1,004,804 other)

Alpine peaks and red rock beauty stretch from the northern border to the south

5. Kentucky

Daniel Boone National Forest and Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area

2,153,550 (813,138 federal/ 1,340,412 other)

Bison herds, sandstone arches, waterfalls, and caves await in the forested hills of Kentucky

4. Wyoming

Bighorn, Bridger, Medicine Bow, Shoshone, and Teton National Forests

9,123,212 acres (8,694,111 federal/ 429,101 other)

Our favorite places to backpack in the world are all in our home state of Wyoming

3. Arizona (Click here to view our 7-Day Road Trip Itinerary)

Apache, Coconino, Coronado, Kaibab, Prescott, Sitgreaves, and Tonto National Forests

11,891,457 acres (11,264,619 federal/ 626,838 other)

Sky Islands that rise above the Sonoran Desert, the red rocks of Sedona, and extensive conifer forests

2. Washington

Colville, Gifford Pinchot, Mt. Baker, Okanogan, Olympic, Snoqualmie, and Wenatchee National Forests

10,109,600 acres (9,287,525 federal/ 822,075 other)

Glacier-clad peaks and beautiful lakes abound in the soggy and scenic Pacific Northwest

…and finally our #1 state for National Forests:

1. California

Angeles, Cleveland, Eldorado, Inyo, Klamath, Lassen, Los Padres, Mendocino, Modoc, Plumas, San Bernardino, Sequoia, Shasta, Sierra, Six Rivers, Stanislaus, Tahoe, Toiyabe, and Trinity National Forests

24,266,631 acres (20,790,923 federal/ 3,475,708 other)

Incredible endemic tree species like giant sequoia and coast redwood make these 19 National Forests the most biodiverse in America

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Honorable Mentions

Colorado

Arapaho, Grand Mesa, Gunnison, Pike, Rio Grande, Roosevelt, Routt, San Isabel, San Juan, Uncompahgre, and White River National Forests

15,339,248 acres (13,884,722 federal/ 1,454,526 other)

There is a short summer season to hike in Colorado’s mountains, but ski resorts and snowshoes open up the country in the winter

Michigan

Hiawatha, Huron, Manistee, and Ottawa National Forests

4,880,281 acres (2,866,752 federal/ 2,013,529 other)

Lighthouses on three Great Lakes, plus wonderful waterfalls, sand dunes, and hiking trails

Idaho (Click here to view our 7-Day Road Trip Itinerary)

Boise, Caribou, Challis, Clearwater, Idaho Panhandle (Coeur d’Alene, Kaniksu, St. Joe), Nez Perce, Payette, Salmon, Sawtooth, and Targhee National Forests

21,582,915 acres (20,416,960 federal/ 1,165,955 other)

Worth including if only for stunning Sawtooth National Recreation Area and the massive Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness

New Hampshire

White Mountain National Forest

828,356 acres (735,823 federal/ 92,533 other)

Only one National Forest in New Hampshire, but one of the few that could easily be a National Park

Puerto Rico

El Yunque National Forest

56,097 acres (28,434 federal/ 27,663 other)

Puerto Rico is not technically a state, but the only tropical rainforest in the National Forest system deserves recognition